Saturday, 18 July 2015

Safe way for breast implants

I am sure you have heard of breast
implants? If not, you’re a jew in women world. A
huge number of people have shown interest in getting breast implants but the
most prominent question on their minds, apart from cost, is safety. Which
breast implants are safest? Basically there are two general types of
breast implants—saline and silicone.

Both consist of a silicone outer
shell; the difference is what’s inside the implants. Saline implants are filled
with saline or sterile saltwater. Silicone breast implants are filled with
silicone gel.

The question of breast implant
safety is not as straightforward as believed. Current research shows there
aren’t significant differences in the safety of silicone and saline implants;
however, each type has its pros and cons.

Ruptures are a risk with either kind
of breast implant and might be caused by surgical error, a fall, or pressure
exerted on the breast. Experts say implications of a rupture are a little
different for the two types.

Saline implant ruptures are easy to
spot. The breast rapidly changes shape over days as the fluid leaks out. If a
saline implant breaks, all that leaks out is saltwater. The saltwater is
harmlessly absorbed into the body.

Silicone implant ruptures are more
difficult to notice. When the implant breaks, the leaking silicone stays in the
body. It can sometimes spread outside the breast and into distant lymph nodes.
As unnerving as that sounds, studies haven’t found that this results in any
increased risk of disease. Nonetheless, if a silicone implant ruptures, your
doctor will probably recommend removing it and any loose silicone.

Ruptures of silicone breast implants
are often “silent,” meaning patients and doctors may not notice them. They can
only be detected by a sophisticate method called Magnetic Resonance Imaging,
MRI. So it is recommended that women with silicone implants get an MRI three
years after implantation and once every two years after that. Over the course
of a woman’s life, these MRIs may cost more than the original implant surgery.

Many women and plastic surgeons
prefer the look and feel of silicone breast implants. Silicone breast implants
are generally considered to be more like real breast tissue. Saline implants
are more prone to causing rippling of the skin.

Silicone breast implants contain
platinum; saline implants don’t. While some people feel that platinum could be
harmful, the FDA says that studies have not found that it poses any risk in
breast implants.

Saline implants are
filled after they’re implanted, so saline implants require a smaller
incision than pre-filled silicone breast implants. Also, many saline implants
can be adjusted after surgery. Months later, a woman could decide to increase
or decrease the size of her saline implants without surgery. The doctor can
just use a syringe to put in more liquid or take it out. The size of standard
prefilled silicone implants cannot be changed.

There are some differences in who
can get the two types of implants. For reconstruction, women can get either
type of breast implant at any age. But for augmentation, saline implants are
approved for women 18 and older, while only women who are 22 and older can get
silicone breast implants.

Keep in mind that your doctor may
have a strong recommendation for one type of breast implant over another.
Certain things, like your body type or the current size of your breasts, might
make one type of implant better for you.

While studies have not found
evidence that breast implants, either silicone or saline, are connected with
serious disease, there are still risks. There are also long-term implications.
Here are some of the breast implant safety issues that you need to consider.

Over time, breast implants wear out
and need to be replaced. How long do breast implants last? There’s no
definitive answer. In general, rupture becomes more likely as breast implants
age. The FDA estimates that breast implants should last at least ten years.
Studies have shown that some breast implants last much longer than that and
others much less.

Rupture isn’t the only problem that
requires surgery. Over time, breast implants can change shape. One breast might
start to look very different from the other. Sometimes, the tissue around the
implant hardens, a condition called capsular contracture. Surgery is the only
way to fix capsular contracture.

If you get breast implants and want
to maintain your breast size and shape for the rest of your life, you should be
prepared to have a number of additional surgeries. The surgery to replace an
implant is not as involved as the original procedure. However, the risk of
complications is actually higher.

Breast implants may permanently
alter breast tissue. If you decide to have the implants removed, your breasts
may not return to the shape they had before the surgery. Your breasts may stay
dimpled or wrinkled.

Breast implants can cause a loss of
sensation in the breast and nipple, as well as pain. They can sometimes result
in excessive scarring and wrinkling.

Some studies have found associations
between breast implants and certain health conditions. Like any surgery,
getting breast implants poses risks. Some women have surgical infections,
bleeding, and swelling. Breast implants can make breastfeeding more
difficult or impossible. They may prevent a woman from producing milk. Breast
implants can also interfere with the accuracy of mammograms.

Deciding whether or not to get
breast implants—either for reconstruction or augmentation —is not easy. There
are a lot of things to weigh. Keep in mind that studies show that most women
who get breast implants each year are satisfied with them. While many women are
still concerned about long-term health risks, research has generally not found
an association between breast implants and serious disease.

Perhaps the most important thing is
to develop realistic expectations. Find a doctor you really trust and talk
frankly and openly. Make sure that you understand the risks of breast implants.
Make sure you understand the best and worst case scenarios. The more you know,
the more confident you’ll feel in your decision.